Earth-auger.



, PATEN'TED DEC. 3, 1907, A. T. SMITH. EARTH AUGER. APPLICATION FILED MAR.11, 1907.

2 SHEETSSHEE.T 1.

53m w R Q HE NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON. o. c

TTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM THEOPHILUS SMITH, OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM YANOEY EVERTON, OF GRIFTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

EARTH-AUGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed March 11 1907- Serial No. 361,821.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM T. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensboro, in the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Earth-Auger, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in earth augers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of earth augers, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one, designed for digging holes for posts, poles and the like, and capable of enabling a hole to be rapidly bored, and of removing the loose earth, when it is withdrawn from the hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide an earth auger of this character, adapted to operate in a plumb or vertical position on either level or hilly ground, and capable of plumbing itself and of being positively guided during the boring operation, so that the hole will be vertical.

The invention also h as for its object to provide an. earth auger adapted to be forced into hard or stony ground, and capable of being compactly folded for transporting it from one place to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide auger-rotating mechanism, adapted to be employed for accurately measuring the distance between the holes.

Vv ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of an earth auger, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, the parts being folded. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line ac-x of Fig. 2, the chain being removed. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is adetail sectional view, illustrating the arrangement of the auger-actuating chain.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

11 designate a pair of spaced runners, connected by front and rear transverse bars 2 and 3 to form a main or supporting frame, but any other desired construction of main or supporting frame may be employed.

Mounted upon the main or supporting frame is a foldable derrick frame, composed of a pair of front standards 4:, and a rear standard 5. The front standards have their lower ends spaced apart and secured to the upper edges of the runners by means of hinges 6, and the upper ends of the front standards are connected with the upper end of the rear standard 5 by means of a pivot 7. The lower end of the rear standard 5, which is centrally secured to the rear transverse bar 3, is provided at the front edge thereof with a depending projection 8, formed by recessing the lower end of the rear standard. A metallic plate or piece 9 is bolted, or otherwise secured to the rear edge of the lower end of the standard 5, and its lower portion, which projects 'below the standard, is detachably secured to the rear edge of the transverse bar 3 by means of a suitable fastening device 10, consisting of a screw, which pierces the plate and engages the transverse bar 3. The lower edge of the metallic plate 9 is rolled to form an eye 11, which receives one side of a loop or ring 12. The front or side standard 4 and the rear or central standard 5 form a tripod, and the rear standard is foldable between the front standards, which are then adapted to be folded downwardly and rearwardly upon the main frame, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The rear standard is provided near its upper end with an eye 13, which is engaged by an eye 14 of a hanger or support 15 of a pulley 16. The pulley 16 receives a r0 e 17, or other flexible connection for ena ling an auger shaft 18 to be withdrawn from the ground. The auger shaft 18 is provided at its upper end with a suitable swivel 19, which is attached to one end of a hoisting rope 17, and the outer portion of the latter is adapted to be arranged in a hook-shaped guide 20 for holding it out of the way, when not in use. The hookshaped guide is mounted on the rear standard and detachably receives the free end of the hoisting rope, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The hanger 15, which may be constructed in any preferred manner, is provided with a forked lower portion having bearings to receive the pivot or axle of the spindle.

The auger shaft 15, which is circular in cross section, has an auger tool or bit 21, detachably secured to its lower end, and it is slidably arranged in an opening 22 of a spherical guide or ball-23, which provides a universal guide for the auger shaft, and which permits the latter to be arranged ina plumb or vertical position on level or hilly ground, so that the hole bored by the auger will be vertical. The ball 23 is supported by a pair of spaced cup-shaped bearings 24, consisting of concavo-convex plates or members, which present concave faces to the opposite sides of the ball and which permit the latter to partially rotate in any direction. This will enable the auger shaft to plumb itself on hilly, or other irregular ground. The bearing cups or members 24 are centrally secured by bolts 25, or other suitable fastening devices to opposite sides of a combined support and brace 26, arranged horizontally and consisting of a longitudinally disposed approximately.U-shaped loop 27, and laterally extending arms 28. The arms 28, which are provided with slots 29, are adj ustably secured to the rear edges of the front standards by bolts 30, or other suitable fastening devices, and the loop 27,which is provided at its rear end with a transverse connecting portion, is secured to the front edge of the rear standard by a bolt 31, which also forms a pivot for the combined brace or support to permit the latter to be turned at an angle when its arms 28 are disconnected from the front standards. This will permit the rear standard to swing forwardly to fold the same between the front standards.

The auger shaft has keyed, or otherwise secured to its lower portion a horizontal chain wheel 32, adapted to be engaged by a chain 33, whereby when the chain is moved longitudinally, the wheel 32 will be rotated for operating the auger. The wheel 32 is provided at its periphery with projections and recesses'to fit and interlock with the links of the chain 23, but a sprocket chain and wheel, or an ordinary pulley and rope may be substituted for the wheel and chain, shown in the accompanying drawings. The chain is supported in advance and in rear of the wheel 32 by means of a combined guide and support 34, loosely mounted on the shaft and supported by the horizontal wheel 32. The combined guide and support 34 is provided with depending arms 35, composed of spaced sides between which guide pulleys 35 are mounted. The chains extend through the spaces or openings between the sides of the arms 35, and are supported by the pulleys 36, which are grooved. The front and rear portions of the chain also pass beneath front and rear grooved guide pulleys 37 and 38, and are arranged in front and rear guides. The front guide consists of an eye 39, extending rearwardly from the front transverse bar 2 at the center thereof, and the rear guide is formed by the loop or ring 12.

The auger bit or tool 21 may be of any preferred construction, and auger bits or tools of different diameter may be employed for boring holes of various sizes. The auger bit or tool is guided at the surface of the ground by means of a tubular guide 40 and a shoe 41', adapted to be anchored by means of a spike or peg 42. The tubular guide is preferably formed integral with a metallic plate 43, secured to the lower face of the body portion of the shoe by means of front and rear arms or portions 44 and 45, or other suitable means. The body portion of the shoe is constructed preferably of wood, and is provided with an enlarged front portion 46, forming side shoulders, which are engaged by the arms 44 and 45, the latter being bent upwardly over the end edges of the enlarged portion 46 of the shoe at opposite sides thereof.

The front end of the chain is provided ith a ring or clevis 47 for the attachment of a draft animal, which is adapted to draw the chain through the apparatus for rotating the auger. The forward movement of the chain rotates the auger forwardly, and after a hole of the desired depth is bored, the loose earth is removed from the hole by lifting the auger by means of the hoisting rope 18. The chain or flexible connection for rotating the auger may be advantageously employed for measuring the distance between the holes for posts, poles, and the like. After a hole has been bored, the draft animal is hitched to the main or supporting frame, and the apparatus is drawn forward to the point where the next hole is to be bored.

In order to enable the earth auger to work advantageously in hard or stony ground, it is provided with upper and lower rods or members 48 and 49, connected respectively with the auger shaft and with the frame-work, and provided at intervals with openings 50 and 51 for the reception of a crow bar 52, or other suitable lever, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The upper.

rod or member 48 is provided with a forked upper portion 53, the sides of which are pivoted to the swivel 19. The lower rod or member 49, which terminates at its upper end in a hook 54, is provided at its lower end with an eye 55, which is secured to the combolts 25.

bined brace and support 26 by one of the The crow bar 53 is adapted to be used as a lever for forcing the auger shaft downwardly to cause the auger bit or tool to readily penetrate the ground.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An earth auger comprising a main frame, a derrick frame having side and central standards, a combined support and brace connecting the central and side standards at points between the ends thereof and detachably secured to the side standards and pivotally connected to the central standard and adapted to be turned when the derrick frame is folded, guiding means carried by the combined support and brace, an auger shaft operating in the guiding means, and means for operating the auger shaft.

2. An earth auger comprising a main frame, a derrick frame having central and side standards, a combined support and brace arranged horizontally and connecting the central and side standards at points between the ends thereof and having spaced side portions, concavo-convex bearing plates secured to and arranged between theside portions of the combined support and brace, a spherical guide mounted between and supported by the bearing plates, an auger shaft operable in the guide, and means for operating the auger shaft.

3. An earth auger comprising a foldable derrick frame composed of side and central standards, a combined support and brace secured to the central and side standards at a point-between the ends thereof and having spaced side portions, concavo-convex bearings arranged between and secured to the said side portions, a spherical guide supported by the said bearings and having an opening, an anger shaft slidable through the opening of the guide, and means for rotating the auger shaft.

4. An earth auger comprising a frame, an auger shaft, means for rotating the auger shaft, and a shoe provided with anchoring means and having a tubular auger guide, said guide being provided with an attachment plate secured to the shoe.

5. An earth auger comprising a frame, an auger shaft, means for rotating the auger shaft, and a shoe having an enlarged portion and provided with a tubular auger guide, said guide being'provided with an attachment plate having arms for engaging the enlarged portion of the shoe.

' 6. An earth auger comprising an auger shaft, a wheel fixed to the shaft, a guide loosely mounted on the shaft and provided with spaced guiding portions arranged in advance and in rear of the wheel, and a longitudinally movable flexible connection passing through the spaced guides and engaging the wheel for rotating the auger shaft.

7. An earth auger comprising an auger shaft, a wheel fixed to the shaft, a guide loosely arranged on the shaft and supported by the wheel, said guide being provided in advance and in rear of the wheel with guiding portions having guide pulleys, and a longitudinally movable flexible connection supported by the guide pulleys and engaging the wheel.

8. An earth auger comprising a main frame provided with front and rear guiding means, an auger shaft, a wheel fixed to the auger shaft, a guide loosely arranged on the auger shaft and having spaced guiding means, and a flexible connection engaging the wheel and passing through the said guiding means.

9. An earth auger comprising a frame, an auger shaft, means for operating the auger shaft, and two members connected respectively with the auger shaft and with the frame and having means arranged at intervals and adapted to be engaged by a lever for forcing the auger into the ground.

10. An earth auger comprising a frame, an auger shaft, hoisting means having a swivel connected with the auger shaft, and upper and lower members connected respectively with the swivel and with the frame and provided with means for receiving a lever, whereby the anger is forced into the ground.

11. An earth auger comprising a frame, an auger shaft, means for operating the same, upper and lower members connected respec tively with the frame and the auger shaft and provided at intervals with eyes, the lower member being also provided with a terminal hook, said hook and eyes being adapted to be engaged by a lever.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADAM THEOPHILUS SMITH.

Witnesses:

W. P. BEALL, Jr., R. I. MOORE. 

